Alpha Fire Co. responsibilities many
Volunteers serve State College
By COLLEEN BURRITT
Collegian Staff Writer
Members of the Alpha Volunteer Fire Company will readily
agree there is a lot more to being a fireman than just fighting
fires. 1
Thfir responsibilities also include rescue work, driving
ambulances and performing many small services for State
College and the surrounding community.
Alpha Fire,' Company, composed of about 110 active
volunteers, serves an area of 132 square miles including the
borough of State College and the University.
Fire Chief Ronald Ross said the company answered 196 fire
calls and 796 ambulance calls last year. “That’s quite a few
for all-volunteer,” he said. This year, Alpha has answered 94
fire calls.
Ross said his job as chief covers writing the fire reports that
are sent to the state and keeping a fire record for the com
pany.
Ross said members are informed of emergencies by a “fire
phone system” in each fireman’s home.
A dispatcher is always at the S. Fraser Street fire station to
take emergency calls. He sends out the message by way of thei
fire phone system to each fireman simultaneously.
First assistant Fire Chief Joseph Neff said an average
turnout at a general alarm fire is about 40 to 60 men and about
five to 15 for minor fires.
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Alpha's new remote firefighting truck
Ross said the company also receives many “silent alarms”
from people who smell smoke or blow fuses. The company
sends someone to check such situations.
Alpha Fire Company also has performed some unusual
rescues. Ross said he received a call a few evenings ago that a
dog chasing a cat had become stuck in a pipe under a-highway.
Ross drove to the scene, but the dog had already freed him
self.
Shortly after he returned, he said, he received another call
that a puppy was stuck in a sewer pipe. Ross rescued him.
'lt's a lot of work, a lot of fun,
and you feel like you're really
doing something for the community.'
Last summer at a community field, Ross said a fraternity’s
monkey escaped and crawled up on a church steeple. Alpha
Fire Company was called for help.
The company also receives many calls to rescue cats in
trees, but the Company has started to frown on such calls.
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Neff said “under normal conditions the cats come down
themselves,” often before the company arrives.
Jerry Ross, a volunteer memoer tor seven months, said the
fire company does not receive many false alarms. He sajid this
may be because calls must be'lelephoned in, and a name and
address must be given/\ ;
“One of the things that; bothers us most is the dumpster
fires,” Ross said. Fires often start in the “dempsterj dump
ster” trash disposals along Calder Alley, and the company
frequently is called late at night to put them out. ,
“It isn’t as funny as some people think,” he said, adding
these minor fires irk the members who have to “get out of bed
and put them out.”
“It’s not too funny to lose a good hour or more of sleep
because of these pranksters,” he added. j
Ross said people “who want to join and do something for the
community” may contact the fire company.' Prospective
members are screened, evaluated and voted on hy the
members. ;
Ross prospective member must be between the ages
of 21 and 45, be an area resident for three years and pass a
physical examination.
. During the first year, he must complete 54 hours of fire
school and 18 hours of first aid training.
“They are on a year’s probation. If they prove themselves,
they are made members of the Alpha Fire Company,” Ross
said. !
Training sessions are held at various times throughout the
year. Ted Reigh, a colunteer for seven years, said the com
pany tries to schedule as much training as possible during the
summer because of the good weather. - , j
“Fire school is held once a year for rookies, but most other
members go back for refreshers,” Reigh said. J
Ross said members are required to attend eight meetings
and 25 per cent of all fires.
Ross said the University “allows all employes who are
members to take time out to go to fires and drive ambulances
without loss of pay.”-
He also said a member has “to be always on call a!nd ready
to help, and a lot of people really appreciate it.” j
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of fun, and you feel like you’re really
'A member has to be\ always on call and ready to help,
doing something in the community,” Ross said.
In his 26 years as a member of the company, Ross said,
“about the only thing that’s changed is the amount of calls.”
“Calls have at least doubled in the last 15 years,” he said.
Neff has been with the company for 22. years. He said his job
as assistant fire chief includes “overseeing fire; company
activities.” , j
Neff said he has noticed a considerable amount of; change in
the town over the years. “The small town feeling is just not
there.” he said. :
and a lot of people really appreciate it/
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Most of the firemen expressed admiration for their job as
volunteers. Jerry Ross said that he definitely enjoys his work.
“It’s a little bit of a thrill and excitement,” he said.
Ross said the company now has nine pieces of equipment.
These trucks are purchased and owned by the borough of State
College.
Reigh explained that when .equipment is needed, the
company must get approval from the borough government, ,
but the fire company designs the trucks. He said the townships-
also donate money for the purchase of equipment.
Alpha Fire Company operates three ambulances, one of
which is at the Boalsburg Fire Company and is driven by
Boalsburg members.
The fire department was incorporated as Alpha Fire
Company in 1904. Next year, it will be celebrating its 75th
anniversary of the company. -
A new fire station is being built on the corner of Beaver
Avenue and Atherton Street. Ross said the company hopes to
occupy it by June 1974.
The new building will be bigger than the one now occupied
and will be used solely by the fire company.
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The Daily Collegian Monday, July 30,197:
And who says firefighting
isn't complicated?
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